By Olayemi Esan
The Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Maj-Gen. Christopher Musa has said that the media should take ownership of the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad region. The Commander spoke on Tuesday during a Military/Media parley on information dissemination sharing for peace in collaboration with Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri, Borno State.
Maj-Gen. Musa noted that kinetic approach in any asymmetric war only constitutes 20 percent of the counter-terrorism operations.
“Your efforts in passing the right information to sensitize the civil populace will support military operations,” assuring that the peace efforts constitute part of the non-kinetic approach to counter-insurgency operations.
He however warned that there are grave consequences of indifference and failure of stakeholders to work towards the return of peace and stability in the region.
He said military and media relation enhances trust and confidence for peace building in the Northeast.
According to him, Nigeria remains the only country to be built and nurtured to restore peace by ending Boko Haram insurgency that has claimed many lives and property.
“Today, we aimed at examining areas of challenges in reporting the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the theatre.
“We must do everything within the law and ethics of journalism to build and nurture in sustaining peace building in the region,” he said, noting that the gaps in civil/military relations be identified in the Theatre.
The event was also attended by heads and representatives of security agencies, comprising of the Police, Civil Defense, State Security Services, Immigration and Correctional Services in the state.
